Chapter I: Preface

This book is the outcome of my own experience of the want of something of the kind in the early autumn of 1897, when the Second Battalion of my old Corps, the Sherwood Foresters, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment, then serving at Bareilly, was ordered to join the Tirah Expeditionary Force. The Battalion had then been in India for nearly fifteen years, but only one or two of the officers, and none of the other ranks, had ever been west of the Indus, and few of us therefore knew anything of the wild men against whom we were to fight, or of the equally wild country in which the operations were to be conducted.

The fault for such ignorance cannot fairly be said to have been ours. There was at that time no single book, generally procurable and of an up-to-date character, describing the country immediately beyond the North-West border, the men who inhabited it, and the campaigns which, since the decline of the Sikh power, have there become our natural and our troublous inheritance. Paget and Mason’s monumental work, _Expeditions against the North-West Frontier Tribes_, published in 1885, was wholly admirable, but much of it was ancient history; it was an enormous volume; it had for long been “confidential,” and had never been placed on general sale. Mr. Oliver’s most fascinating book, _Across the Border, or Pathan and Biluch_, had been published in 1890, but it contained little more than a general mention of certain campaigns. It was therefore almost inevitable that British officers—and especially those serving in India in British regiments—had no idea where, in regard to the Frontier, they could draw their knowledge or inspiration.

Even in the present day matters have not greatly improved. The cream has been drawn from Paget and Mason’s book, it has been brought up-to-date, and re-christened _Frontier and Overseas Expeditions from India_; but the material is now contained in several large volumes, of which seven have already appeared, and it does not seem to be intended that these should be generally available, since each is labelled “For Official Use only.”

It seemed then to me that there was room for a single volume, compiled from official and other sources, describing the more turbulent of the tribes beyond our Border, the countries they inhabit, and the campaigns which the Indian Government has undertaken against them during the last sixty-five years; and up to the time of completing the chapters which follow, I believe this to have been the first attempt which has been made to put such a record before the Army in one handy volume.

I wish to express my thanks to my old comrade, Sir Horace, for so kindly acceding to my request to write an introduction to my book; to my brother, Major Wylly, Librarian at the Royal United Service Institution, for much help in research; and to Mr. J. H. Harper, of the staff of the same Institution, for preparing nearly all the maps.

The appearance of this book has been delayed some four and a half months by the request of the Government of India that it should be submitted to Simla for scrutiny prior to publication; the delay is to be regretted, but it has admitted of advantage being taken of certain suggestions offered by the Indian authorities for adding to the instructional value of the work.

H. C. W.

_March, 1912._

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION p. xix

CHAPTER I

THE BORDERLAND

The country of the Pathans; their traditionary descent;
their bad and good qualities; their loyalty as soldiers;
blood-feuds; tribal divisions; leaders, religious and
secular. Sunnis and Shiahs. Gar and Samil. Defence of the
border. Moveable columns, their sphere of action.
Punishment of offences. Pathans serving in Indian Army,
Militia, Police and Levies. The North-West Frontier
Province. Frontier communications. General frontier
policy pp. 1–23

CHAPTER II

BLACK MOUNTAIN TRIBES

The country surrounding the Black Mountain: _Allai_,
_Nandihar_, _Deshi_, _Tikari_—all Swatis; _Tanawal_; the
Yusafzai clans of the Mountain. Description of the range.
Routes. _Hassanzais_; _Akazais_; _Chagarzais_. Interior
communications. _Pariari Saiyids._ Expedition of 1852–3
against the Hassanzais. Expedition of 1868 against the
Black Mountain Tribes. Expedition of 1888. Expedition of
1891 against the Hassanzais and Akazais. Expedition of
1892 against the Hassanzais and Mada Khels pp. 24–53

CHAPTER III

YUSAFZAIS AND GADUNS

_Yusafzais_, descent; arrival in Peshawar valley; division
into two branches; occupation; character; sub-divisions
of the two main branches; the holdings of the
sub-divisions. Cis-border Yusafzais. Trans-border
Yusafzais; _Bunerwals_; _Gaduns_; their origin; probably
of Rajput descent; arrival in their present country;
description; tribal divisions. _Hindustani Fanatics._
Saiyid Ahmad of Bareilly pp. 54–70

CHAPTER IV

YUSAFZAIS AND GADUNS: OPERATIONS

Expedition of 1853 against the _Hindustani Fanatics_; the
mutineers of the 55th Native Infantry. Operations in 1857
against Narinji. Expedition of 1858 against the _Khudu
Khels_. Hindustanis expelled from Sitana. Ambela
Expedition of 1863. Expedition of 1898 against the
_Bunerwals_. Operations against the _Gaduns_. The
_Hindustani Fanatics_ pp. 71–106

CHAPTER V

AKOZAIS (SWAT)

District of Swat proper; Swat Kohistan; climate;
description of the country; character of the people;
early history of the valley; government of Swat. “The
Border Pope”; his life and rule. Divisions of the
_Akozais_; their sub-divisions. Other clans; _Dusha
Khels_; _Torwals_; _Garhwis_. Operations of 1847 against
the _Baizais_. Expedition of 1849 against the _Sam
Baizais_. Expedition of 1852 against the _Ranizais_. Umra
Khan. Attacks on the Malakand and Chakdara, 1897.
Operations of the Malakand Field Force pp. 107–142

CHAPTER VI

UTMAN KHELS

Their country and neighbours; origin; main tribal
divisions; Ismailzai. Communications. Operations.
Expedition of 1852. Expedition of 1878. Expedition of
1897 pp. 143–154

CHAPTER VII

CLANS OF BAJAUR AND DIR

Both Yusafzais; distinction. _Bajaur_, the country and
people; three main divisions; the valleys of Bajaur. Khan
of Nawagai. _Dir_, the country and people; ranges and
passes; divisions. Operations. Umra Khan. Chitral Relief
Expedition, 1895. Operations of the Malakand Field Force
in Dir and Bajaur, 1897 pp. 155–182

CHAPTER VIII

CHITRALIS

Description of the country; internal communications;
position on the frontier; of political rather than
strategic importance; origin of the people;
characteristics; government and rulers. British Missions.
Claimants to the Mehtarship. Umra Khan. Commencement of
hostilities. Events on the Chitral-Gilgit line. Advance
of the Gilgit Column. Siege of Chitral Fort. Raising of
the Siege pp. 183–210

CHAPTER IX

MOHMANDS

Main branches; origin; position of their country. The
Durand partition of the Mohmand territory. Kunar River
and Valley. Asmar. Communications from the east. Gandab
Valley; the people. Cis-frontier clans; clans of the
independent Mohmands. Vassal clans pp. 211–226

CHAPTER X

MOHMANDS: OPERATIONS

First dealings with British. Operations in 1851–52; Matta
threatened. Operations in 1854 against the Michni
Mohmands. Operations near Shabkadar. Affair at Kam Dakka
in 1879. Action on the Gara Heights. Attack on Shabkadar
in 1897. Operations in the Mohmand country. Renewed raids
by tribesmen. Matta fired into. Concentration of troops.
Expedition of 1908. Part of Mohmand Field Force
transferred to Lundi Kotal. Attack by Afghan _lashkar_ on
Michni Kandao. Gen. Willcocks defeats enemy who disperse.
Operations of the Mohmand Field Force resumed and
concluded. Loi Shilman Railway pp. 227–260

CHAPTER XI

AFRIDIS

Their country; origin; appearance; characteristics;
armament and fighting value; methods of punishment and
coercion; moral character; internal feuds; divided into
eight clans. _Khyber Afridis_; area of country; main
rivers. _Zakha Khels._ Tribal limits in Khyber Pass.
First contact with British Government. Arrangements for
keeping open Khyber Pass during both Afghan campaigns.
Description of Pass. _Adam Khels_ and Kohat Pass pp. 261–280

CHAPTER XII

AFRIDIS: OPERATIONS

_Adam Khels_; first trouble in 1850. Expedition against the
Kohat Pass Afridis in 1850. Continual difficulties about
safeguarding the Pass. Expedition against the _Jowaki_
Afridis, 1853. A second expedition in 1877. A third in
1877–78. Operations of a column from Peshawar. _Aka
Khels_; operations in 1855 pp. 281–300

CHAPTER XIII

KHYBER PASS AFRIDIS: OPERATIONS

Commenced giving trouble in 1857; continued up to year of
Afghan War. Expedition into Bazar Valley in 1878; second
expedition in 1879. Engagements made for keeping Pass
open held to for sixteen years. Sudden outbreak; some of
the reputed causes; action (or inaction) of Peshawar
authorities; precautionary measures; distribution of
Khyber Rifles on outbreak; attacks on the Khyber forts
and posts. Tirah expedition of 1897–98; composition and
distribution of force; actions of Dargai; capture of
Sampagha and Arhanga Passes; operations in Maidan and
Mastura; operations against _Chamkannis_ and westerly
_Orakzais_; evacuation of Afridi Tirah; re-occupation of
the Khyber; expedition to the Bazar Valley; action at
Shinkamar Pass. Expedition of 1908 to the Bazar Valley.
Note pp. 301–345

CHAPTER XIV

ORAKZAIS

Their country; origin; early struggles with the _Bangash_;
description of the people; appearance; character; their
rivers and valleys; their clans; holdings and
settlements. _Hamsaya_ clans. Certain divisions petition
to be taken under British administration; British
Government refuses request; reasons for same pp. 346–362

CHAPTER XV

ORAKZAIS: OPERATIONS

Outrages in 1855 in the Miranzai Valley. Attacks on the
_Bangash_. Expedition against the _Rabia Khel_ in 1855.
Operations against the _Bizotis_ in 1868. Raid across the
Ublan Pass by Col. Keyes in 1869. First Miranzai
Expedition in 1891. Second. Commencement of the troubles
in 1897; operations near Hangu, Sadda, and the Ublan
Pass; _Orakzais_ and _Afridis_ attack Samana forts;
relief of Fort Lockhart; and Gulistan pp. 363–388

CHAPTER XVI

BANGASH: ZAIMUKHTS: CHAMKANNIS: TURIS

Miranzai under Sikh rule. Attempted occupation by Kabul
Government. Description of Miranzai Valley. Kurram,
originally Afghan territory; description of Upper and
Lower Kurram. Importance of these valley routes.
_Bangash_; origin; characteristics; main clans.
_Zaimukhts_; origin; country; clans; operations;
expedition of 1879. _Chamkannis_; origin; country;
peculiarities; clans; operations in 1897. _Turis_;
obscurity of their origin; possession of the Kurram
Valley; characteristics; friendship for Englishmen;
curious family divisions; no tribal combination pp. 389–417

CHAPTER XVII

WAZIRISTAN AND ITS TRIBES

Description of the country; inhabitants; origin of Wazirs.
Tochi and Gomal Valleys. Wana. Horse-breeding. Wazirs
generally disliked by other Pathans. _Darwesh Khel_;
their country. _Mahsuds_; their country; chief towns;
their raiding propensities; priest-ridden. _Batannis_;
origin; country; clans; expedition of 1880. _Dawaris_;
dubious descent; former home; character; clans;
operations in 1872 pp. 418–434